The Jazz Mann | Jazz music reviews and news from the Jazz Mann Ian Mann

Winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Media, 2019

Jazz Album Reviews

Bill Laurance & Michael League

Keeping Company

A series of short melodic vignettes performed in an intimate manner by two highly accomplished musicians.

Misha Mullov-Abbado

Effra

The Mark Williams Trio

Long Way Out

Lars Danielsson / Verneri Pohjola / John Parricelli

Trio

Hattie Whitehead

Bloom

Number Junky

Birak

Playtime

Morse Code Through The Lights

Jazz Mann Recommended Listening

Orlando Le Fleming

Romantic Funk ; Wandering Talk

This third instalment in the Romantic Funk series represents a worthy follow up to past glories and combines intelligent rhythmic grooves with imaginative, multi faceted compositions and arrangements.

Kevin Lawlor

The Island

Once again Lawlor impresses with the quality of both his playing and writing. There are some strong melodic themes and all are well served by the members of an exceptional international quartet.

Patrick Naylor

Organza

Although recognisably in the lineage of the jazz organ trio tradition Naylor's group also brings a very contemporary sensitivity to the music. This is expressed via the intelligent original writing.

John-Paul Muir

Home Now

A convincing artistic statement from Muir that showcases several sides of his impressive all round musical talent.

Live Jazz Reviews

Karim Saber Quintet

Karim Saber Quintet minus one Oxford University Jazz Society at the Mad Hatter, Oxford, 12/02/2025.

Eddie Gripper / Alex Clarke Quartet

Eddie Gripper / Alex Clarke Quartet, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 16/02/2025.

Impossible Conversations

Impossible Conversations, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 13/02/2025.

Matheus Prado Trio

Matheus Prado Trio, ‘A Night in Rio’, Brecon Jazz Club, The Muse Arts Centre, Brecon,11/02/2025.

BMJ Collective with Gethin Liddington

BMJ Collective with Gethin Liddington Celebrate the Gerry Mulligan-Chet Baker Quartet, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 09/02/2025.

Brandon Allen Quintet

Brandon Allen Quintet, ‘Some Kinda Mean – The Music of David ‘Fathead’ Newman’, Shrewsbury Jazz Network, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury, 08/02/2025.

Jazz Mann Features

Double Bill Sunday at Black Mountain Jazz, Abergavenny featuring the Ross Hicks Trio “Three Elms” album launch and the Patrick Barrett-Donlon Quartet’s “Leading From The Back”.

Guest contributor Debs Hancock, with help from other audience members, on this double bill showcasing two distinctive performances by outstanding young jazz musicians based in Wales.

Fifth Annual Bath Jazz Weekend, Widcombe Social Club, Bath, Sunday 5th January 2025.

Ian Mann enjoys the final day of the Weekend and performances by Ribbons (Sara Colman & Rebecca Nash), Sarost (Mark Sanders, Paul Rogers, Larry Stabbins), and the Huw Warren / Angharad Jenkins Duo.

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